I bought New Vegas from a local store and I can't find a product key on my cover or anywhere. Is this the stores fault or is the product key part of the actual game? Where to find it.

If you really can't find a product key inside the cover or in the manual (I don't remember where exactly the key is) and it's new and not used, I suggest you http://gamesas.com/en-us/contact and politely ask for a new key. They will probably ask you to scan your receipts and game package and then hopefully give you a new key.

was it new or used?